Prince Harry's Invictus Games are set to make history as three new countries will make their debuts in the competition this year.
Colombia, Israel and Nigeria will all make their appearance at the 2023 edition of the event.
Nigeria's addition is a historic moment for the Invictus Games as the nation becomes the first entry from Africa.
Captain of Team Nigeria, Corporal Effiom Antigha, told CNN he was excited to participate in the games: “I feel very happy because, before now, I didn’t think I could engage myself in any of these sporting activities.”
Prince Harry's Invictus Games will have three new nations participate
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He added: “The Invictus Foundation has helped develop me physically and mentally.
“Before joining Invictus, I had never heard of sitting volleyball.
"When I saw that I could engage in the sport without having to stress my limbs, I felt very great. Since then, my spirit has been high.
"I can now take myself to the gym for upper body work. That’s something I haven’t done since I got injured."
The manager of the Nigerian team, Bobby Ojeh also shared his delight at the nation's participation in the event.
He told CNN: "I want to hear their stories and also compete with them.”
Ojeh added: “We have professional coaches training our men in these sports.”
Participants will be picked from a pool of 35 injured soldiers that have been supported by the charity.
Starting in 2014, the Invictus Games has been hosted by the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and the Netherlands.
Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in The Hague, Netherlands April 16, 2022. Peter Dejong/Pool via REUTERS
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Prince Harry, who is patron of the event writes on the Invictus Games website: “These Games have shone a spotlight on the ‘unconquerable’ character of servicemen and women, their families and the ‘Invictus’ spirit.
"These Games have been about seeing guys sprinting for the finish line and then turning round to clap the last man in.
"They have been about teammates choosing to cross the line together, not wanting to come second, but not wanting the other guys to either.
"These Games have shown the very best of the human spirit.”
